Marko: 'No team orders, don't think it's necessary'

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22 October 2022 at 09:27
Last update 22 October 2022 at 11:53
  • GPblog.com

Sergio Perez was still fighting for second place in the world championship. The Mexican is in a battle with Charles Leclerc and help from teammate Max Verstappen would perhaps make things a little easier. In any case, that help is not going to come in advance, Helmut Marko stressed.

"We don't give team orders, I don't think it's necessary," Marko replies when the Mexican branch of ESPN the Red Bull Racing advisor asked what support Red Bull will give Perez to secure second place in the World Championship. "We will give him the best possible car."

Perez has to go it alone

The Austrian racing stable could make history this year by taking first and second place in the drivers' championship for the first time in its history. Having Perez finish second in the World Championship is therefore a priority, but Verstappen does not necessarily have to give way to that. "Both drivers have the same support, it [finishing second] depends on him."

So the 79-year-old Austrian believes the equipment, the RB18, is good enough for Perez to beat his rival on his own merits. In any case, nothing was discussed ahead of the weekend in the United States, although of course it is certainly not out of the question for Verstappen to help his teammate if he is in that position.

Marko: "We have not discussed those things, but I think it is very clear what the team's objectives are, I think we are a strong and united team, if he [Verstappen] would be in a position to help, he would."

Record for Verstappen in the making

Verstappen currently has 12 wins to his name in the current Formula One season. If he manages to win one more Grand Prix, he will match the record of 13 wins in one year held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. However, with four more GPs to go in 2022, he can also go well past both Germans.